Phase-II ‘Design to Suit’ Temperature Controlled Warehouse by Coldman Logistics is unveiled in Coimbatore. Phase II will begin operations now after Phase I began two months ago. About 6,500 pallets fit in both phases. Coldman Logistics now has over 70,000 temperature-controlled pallets and 5 lakhs square feet of ambient capacity spread over 20 warehouses in 12 locations throughout India.

The time is here for the Indian air cargo industry to tap the potential and make the best use of emerging trends such as digitalisation, rising e-commerce and perishables movement across India, especially in tier II and III cities and abroad to boost cargo activity and enhance performance said, CK Govil, VP, Air Cargo Agents’ Association of India (ACAAI). He said, ACAAI will focus on enhancing air cargo resiliency in the new normal scenario by adopting efficient growth strategies and focusing on resolving key issues such as logistics cost, congestion at ports, improving infrastructure and multimodal connectivity. “Though, the sector performed exceptionally well during the pandemic, there is a need to improve multimodal infrastructure and connectivity. We need more Air Freight Stations (AFSs).  Perishable movement should be encouraged, especially defence aircraft,” he said.  “In our forthcoming edition, we will be focusing on improving air cargo resilience. We have the government’s support, and they are taking steps for resolving key issues hindering the growth of the sector,” added Govil.

Finnair Cargo has partnered with WiseTech Global to make it simple for freight forwarders to select, reserve, confirm, and modify shipments in real time through the CargoWise platform of WiseTech Global, says release. Customers of CargoWise will now have immediate access to Finnair Cargo’s flight schedules, pricing, capacity, and inventory across 24 countries in Asia, Europe, and the US. “Finnair Freight employs digitalization to drastically increase transparency and effectiveness of air cargo shipping procedures,” said Fredrik Wildtgrube, senior vice president of Finnair Cargo. “The direct data exchange with CargoWise enables us to communicate real-time data across the whole lifetime, from booking to execution of the Air Waybill, giving our customers a smooth experience without having to leave the CargoWise site,” he added.

Shiprocket has collaborated with Invest India’s Startup India Initiative to create brand D2C 2.0, supporting the next wave of consumer products created by entrepreneurs from all around the nation. The programme will assist in accelerating D2C and e-commerce firms who have made a local impact with goods created by Bharat, for Bharat, and have achieved early success. D2C startups are eligible to apply for the Rocketfuel D2C Accelerator, which is only available through the Startup India website. According to an official release, Shiprocket will give D2C firms top-tier privileges for logistics and e-commerce services throughout the three-month accelerator programme and provide shipping credits that may be used on its platform. Saahil Goel, co-founder and CEO of Shiprocket, stated that Startup India is one of the country’s major venues for start-ups and business owners. Our goal is to provide a support system that covers all facets of a company’s operations rather than simply its financial needs. This partnership with Startup India is a move in the right direction.

Lufthansa Cargo is all set to expand its intra-European route network following the arrival of a new Airbus A321P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter), scheduled for next October, said release. The second aircraft of this type will join the fleet of the German airline’s cargo division is currently in Singapore, undergoing conversion from its original passenger version to freighter one. It will be registered as D-AEUA. The aircraft will offer a range of around 3.500 kilometres with a payload capacity of up to 28 tonnes, distributed over fourteen container positions on the main deck and a further ten positions on the lower deck. The conversion will include the installation of a reinforced floor, a roller system to facilitate cargo movement and a large door in the fuselage for stowage and unstowage, the release added.

Yashpal Sharma, President, Air Cargo forum India (ACFI) said, “Upskilling existing workforce is one of the key concerns and with the upbeat projections of growth in the industry we would need to collectively work to empower our workforce with training to make them future ready.” He further added,  “I will make my best efforts to take ACFI into a higher orbit by engaging with all stakeholders and policymakers at local and international level. Over the next five years, I see ACFI collaborating with various industry bodies in India and overseas to position and contribute to carving out knowledge banks, process development and building a robust ecosystem for galvanizing the industry in the country.”

“The existence of well developed air cargo infrastructure will benefits not only the airport but the region’s economy as well,” said Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways at the recently concluded The Domestic Air Cargo Agents Association of India (DACAAI) convention. He added, “Air cargo service can facilitate the supply of raw material and components to the region which attracts manufacturing. But it is true that in the domestic market air cargo share is very low and the challenges are many. However, in the era of Amrit kal, that is the next 25 years, we are committed to make of our country our Armanirbhar Bharat. The first important thing for that is reducing the logistic cost to 8% of GDP. This is at the top of our agenda and it will benefit all sectors and all the owners economy. Aviation infrastructure should be developed using the latest technology.If we can make it efficient and accessible then it will create in huge numbers.Air cargo has the biggest advantage of speed to save transit time can help global business in a big way.We have a huge flight capacity.Utilization should be improved by taking appropriate measures. If we can transport more volume by air, logistic cost will be reduced.” Gadkari also focused on boosting domestic perishables trade. He said, “I am in discussion with the Defense Minister regarding use of big Defense aircraft for transportation of fruits, vegetables and agriculture produce.”

The Domestic Air Cargo Agents Association of India (DACAAI) organised the 12th edition of its convention in New Delhi on Friday. The theme of the event was ‘The Future of Domestic Air Cargo in India: Way Forward.’ The event began with the inaugural address by Suraj Agrawal, Secretary, DACAAI followed by the lamp lighting ceremony by DACAAI members Arvind Nayak, President DACAAI, Gaurav Ghuwalewala, VP and Founder DACAAI, Amit Bajaj, Member DACAAI and leading air cargo experts and government officials namely, Mahesh Malik, CCO, IndiGo Cargo, Kamesh Peri, CEO, Celebi and Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary, MoCA amongst others. DACAAI members also launched the yearly handbook in the virtual presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road, Transport and Highways. The focus of the convention was on building resiliency in the domestic air cargo sector. The experts also highlighted on leading domestic airlines launching freighters in the coming months to meet the surge in demand and new cargo complexes coming up at the regional airports boosting logistics activities from the tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The experts also focused on the growing e-commerce sector bolstering growth of air cargo domestically. “We have adequate infrastructure, policies and manpower in place to achieve the pre-COVID growth levels in the coming years. We have government’s support and we are moving in the right direction,” said experts.

At recently concluded 12th edition of The Domestic Air Cargo Agents Association of India (DACAAI), Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India told exclusively to Cargo Talk that Industrial collaboration will definitely help in achieving the ambitious target of 10mn tonnes by 2030 for both domestic and international cargo. “Industry should collaborate and work towards achieving one mission – growth. All the respective organisations should team up and keep their ego aside and work towards the benefit of the industry,” said Dubey. Focusing on the growing importance and prominence of cargo drones, he added, “Drones will help in transportation of variety of cargo especially pharmaceuticals to the remote locations and far off areas. We will see more of cargo drones in the coming years.” He also urged the industry to make the best use of adopting cost-effective IT solutions and digitalisation for resilient supply chain operations.

Cathay Pacific has extended its Fly Greener, a carbon-offset program, powered by an integrated carbon emissions calculator, to its air cargo services as part of its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, said a release. The new carbon emissions calculator works out the carbon emissions of shipments and the cost to offset them. Customers can then contribute to buy carbon offsets from carefully selected carbon-offset projects. All selected projects are certified under the Gold Standard to ensure their carbon reductions are verified and come with societal and developmental benefits. “The carbon-offset program follows the launch earlier this year of Cathay Pacific’s SAF Programme, which brings SAF into Hong Kong International Airport for the first time in history. It provides corporate customers the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint from business travel and air cargo shipments by contributing to the use of SAF,” stated a release.